Temporary structure

ABSTRACT

A kit for building a structure which includes a plurality of panels ( 28, 30 ), each panel having at least one respective peripheral formation ( 34 ) and a plurality of fasteners ( 10 ); each fastener having at least two clip formations ( 12, 14 ), and wherein the clip formations of a fastener are respectively engageable with the peripheral formations of two of the panels which are positioned adjacent each other, to secure the panels together.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a temporary structure and to a kitfor erecting or building a structure of this type. Although it isenvisaged that the structure will be used mainly by children forbuilding light-weight shelters, enclosures or the like it is possible tomake use of the principles of the invention in erecting more substantialstructures for example to provide a shelter or shield against weatherelements such as the sun, rain and wind. The kit can also be used foreducational and motivational purposes by providing elements which can beassembled in imaginative, innovative ways to erect mazes, andconstructions of different shapes and sizes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a kit for building a structure which includes aplurality of panels, each panel having at least one respectiveperipheral formation and a plurality of fasteners, each fastener havingat least two clip formations, and wherein the clip formations of afastener are respectively engageable with the peripheral formations oftwo of the panels which are positioned adjacent each other, to securethe panels together.

Each panel may be made from a sheet material which preferably isflexible.

The peripheral formation of a panel may be formed by an inflatablesection of the sheet material.

The inflatable section of a panel is preferably tubular and extendscontinuously along the periphery of the panel around an enclosed regionof the sheet material.

The enclosed region, which may be a flat portion of the sheet material,may extend from the inflatable tubular section at any desired positioneg. from a central position, substantially tangentially from the tubularsection, or from any other desired position.

The clip formations of each respective fastener are preferablyresiliently deformable.

In one embodiment each fastener includes a bridging piece and the clipformations are opposing arcuate sections at respective ends of thebridging piece.

In a different embodiment each fastener includes two arcuate sectionswhich respectively form the clip formations, and each section isengageable with a respective peripheral formation of a panel.

Each arcuate section may extend along a substantial portion of acircular path through an angle in excess of 180°, and preferably throughan angle of the order of 240°.

The arcuate sections may extend from a central region, at which thearcuate sections are connected to each other, which lies on a straightline which passes diametrically through the arcuate sections. Preferablythe central region is substantially linear ie. is not curved.

A mouth through which an inflated tubular section can be inserted into aclip formation may be defined between an end of the central region andan end of a respective arcuate section. The mouth may extend in anangular sense through about 120°.

The invention also extends to a panel for use in the aforementioned kitwhich includes a region of flexible sheet material and an inflatabletubular section of sheet material which extends around the region toform a continuous peripheral formation of the panel.

The panel may be square, rectangular or triangular in outline, or haveany other suitable shape.

The invention also provides a fastener for use in the aforementioned kitwhich includes a body which is made from a resiliently deformableplastics material and which is formed with two arcuate sections whichrespectively define the clip formations. The fastener may be constructedin accordance with the aforementioned principles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is further described by way of examples with reference tothe accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fastener according to one form of theinvention,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the fastener of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of two interconnected panels which areincluded in a kit for building a structure according to the invention,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion marked A of the arrangement inFIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is a plan view in cross-section of the arrangement shown in FIG.3 taken on the line 5-5,

FIGS. 6 and 7 are views similar to FIGS. 3 and 4 respectively butwherein the interconnected panels are at a right angle to each other,

FIG. 8 is a view in plan of a fastener according to a different form ofthe invention which can be used in place of the fastener shown in FIG.1, and

FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 schematically illustrate the use of different typesof fasteners.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings respectively illustrate inperspective and plan a fastener 10 according to the invention whichincludes two arcuate sections 12 and 14 respectively which are joinedtogether at a central region 16.

Each arcuate section is substantially C-shaped and has rounded ends 18.Each C-shaped section follows a circular path and extends through anangle 20 of approximately 240°.

The fastener 10 is made, eg. integrally moulded, from a suitableresiliently deformable plastics material such as polypropylene.

The central region 16 is linear, ie. not curved, and lies on a straightline 22 which passes diametrically through the arcuate sections 12 and14.

A mouth 24 is defined between an end 26 of the central region and an end18 of a respective arcuate section. The mouth extends in an angularsense through an angle which is slightly less than 120°.

FIG. 3 illustrates two panels 28 and 30 respectively which are includedin a building kit according to the invention. The panels can be made toany appropriate size and shape but, conveniently, are square,rectangular or triangular. In the illustration the panel 28 isapproximately twice the size of the panel 30.

Each panel is made from a flexible plastics sheet material. The panel 28includes an enclosed region 32 of sheet material which is bounded by aninflatable tubular section 34 which forms a peripheral formation aroundthe panel. The section 34 is formed from the same material as the region32 and is defined by welding overlapping portions of the sheet materialto one another. A valve 34 which is of a kind known in the art is weldedto the sheet material of the peripheral formation at a suitablelocation. The valve 36 could be of a type which can be used forinflating or deflating a tubular section 34, according to requirement.Alternatively two valves (not shown) could be used: one for inflating,and one for deflating, the tubular section when required.

The panel 30 has a construction similar to that of the panel 28 and forthis reason is not further described herein.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the arrangement shown in FIG.3 marked A. A fastener 10, of the type shown in FIG. 1, is used tosecure the panels together. Once the peripheral formations of the panelshave been inflated, the panels take up their designed shapes and arefairly rigid. In the example adjacent portions 34A and 34B of theperipheral formations 34 on the respective panels are positionedalongside one another and the fastener 10 is then engaged with theperipheral formations at selected locations. The arcuate formations 12and 14 are clipped around the inflated tubular formations 34A and 34Bwith the central region 16 fitting between the formations. When thefastener is engaged with the tubular formations, the tubular formationsare slightly deformed or, alternatively, the arcuate sections 12 and 14are slightly deformed outwardly so that the tubular formations can fitclosely into the arcuate sections 12 and 14 respectively. As eacharcuate section extends through more than 180° it tends to stay inposition once it is engaged with a tubular formation and the fastener isonly detachable from the tubular formations if a pulling force isexerted on the fastener.

Important aspects in this regard are the size of the mouth 24 (in anangular sense) and the fact that the central region 16 is relativelyshort and linear. It has been found that it can be difficult to connecttwo tubular sections to a fastener 10 if the central region 16 isextended in an arcuate sense along the circular paths which define thesections 12 and 14 respectively. As the kit of the invention is intendedto be used, at least, by children the ease of connecting the panels to,and disconnecting the panels from the fastener is an important factor.

FIG. 5 illustrates the tubular formations 34A and 34B in plan and incross section. Each arcuate section 12 and 14 extends through therespective angle 20 which, as noted, is well in excess of 180°. Thearcuate sections therefore remain firmly engaged with the peripheralformations 34A and 34B provided these formations are fully inflated. Itis clear that the positions at which the region of sheet material 32 isattached to, and projects from, a tubular section 34 is important forthis factor influences the shape of the fastener 10.

In FIG. 5 the region 32 projects from the tubular section 34 at a pointwhich is adjacent the respective end 18. If the region were “centrally”positioned relatively to the tubular section 34, as indicated by adotted line 32K, it would not be possible, by using the describedfastener 10, to connect the panels to each other in an in-linearrangement. As is described hereinafter it is possible to constructdifferent fastener arrangements to take account of different types ofconstruction of the panels but by using a correctly designed panel, ie.one in which the region 32 is “off-centre” and close to, or at, atangential position 32T, and a correctly shaped fastener which isgenerally of the type shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the number of differenttypes of components in the kit of the invention can be minimized.

As is shown in FIG. 3 two fasteners designated 10A and 10B are used atspaced locations, in a vertical sense, to secure the panels 28 and 30 toeach other.

A plurality of panels of different shapes and sizes can beinterconnected to one another, substantially in the manner described,using a plurality of fasteners 10.

FIG. 6 illustrates panels 28A and 30A respectively which are similar inall material respects to the panels 28 and 30 shown in FIG. 3. In thiscase however the panels are positioned so that they are at a right angleto each other, when viewed in plan. The panels can however be secured toone another using fasteners 10 in a manner similar to what has beendescribed in connection with FIG. 3. More generally, due to the factthat the peripheral formations 34 are substantially circular incross-section and as each fastener 10 is formed with two correspondingarcuate sections 12 and 14, it is possible to secure the panels to oneanother with the panels at practically any desired relative angularorientation, but taking into account the points made in connection withFIG. 5. Moreover it is possible to adjust the panels by turning onepanel angularly relatively to another. It is also possible to erectadditional panels at elevated positions by engaging the panels withupper horizontally extending sections 40 of the peripheral formations34. The upper panels can extend horizontally or, as is indicated bymeans of dotted lines 42 in FIG. 6, can be inclined in the nature of aroof.

The panels 28 and 30 are two panels in a plurality of panels which arecarefully chosen in sizes and shapes, to make up a kit. The panels aredesigned so that they can be secured to one another, according torequirement, to make up a structure of any practical shape and size. Ifdesired the structure can have walls and a horizontal or inclined roof.The enclosed regions 32 of the various panels can be formed from opaqueor transparent plastics materials, according to requirement. Thus aportion of a region 32 of a selected panel could, for example, include atransparent section 44 or a section which can be opened to define awindow opening. As is shown in FIG. 6 the section 44 can be lifted andcan be engaged firmly with the panel, when required, by means ofappropriate fasteners e.g. fasteners which are based on interengaginghook and eye formations of the type sold under the name VELCRO.

Although the central region 16 which joins the arcuate sections 12 and14 together may be rigid it is possible to form this region with a hingeline or a line of weakness using techniques which are known in the art.This enables one arcuate section 12 to be pivoted about the region 16relatively to the other section 14. For example the region 16 can beformed as a thin pliable coupling component 16A and the remainder of thematerial of the section 16 is eliminated—see the inset drawing to FIG. 2which illustrates a flexible link between the sections 12 and 14. Apanel which is secured to an adjacent panel by means of a modifiedfastener of this type can act as a door in that the panel can bepivotally moved relatively to the other panel.

FIG. 8 illustrates a modified fastener 50 which can be used in place ofthe fastener 10. The fastener includes a bridging piece 52 with arcuatesections 54 and 56 located respectively at opposed ends of the bridgingends. The arcuate sections have concave surfaces opposing each other.Each section 54, 56 is engageable with a respective peripheral tubularformation 34 of the kind shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 6 and 7. The fastener 50does not have an intermediate region 16 between the arcuate formations54 and 56. A significant feature which flows from this difference isthat it is not possible to connect the fastener 50 to a singleperipheral formation 34 for it can only be engaged simultaneously withtwo peripheral formations 34 which are side by side. Clearly with afastener 10 of the kind shown in FIG. 1 each arcuate section 12, 14 canbe engaged with a peripheral formation 34 and it will remain engagedwith the peripheral formation irrespective of whether the other arcuatesection is engaged with a peripheral formation.

FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 are schematic representations in cross section andplan of different types of fasteners and panel arrangements.

FIG. 9 illustrates two C-shaped clips 60 and 62 respectively which havemouths 24A and 24B respectively positioned to face at a right angle toone another. A panel 64 with a tubular formation 34 and a “centrally”positioned region 32 is engaged with the clip 60 while a second panel66, of similar construction to the panel 64, is engaged with the clip62. The panel 66 is at a right angle to the panel 64. Although it ispossible to vary the relative orientations of the panels, to aconsiderable extent, it is not possible to align the panel so that theregions 32 of the panels are in line with each other.

FIG. 10 shows a fastener with arcuate clip formations 68 and 70respectively which have mouths 24C and 24D respectively which face inopposite directions. Panels 64 and 66, similar to what has beendescribed in connection with FIG. 9, can be connected to the fastener inan in-line configuration but it is evident that the panels cannot bearranged so that they are at a right angle to one another.

FIG. 11 shows a fastener with a C-shaped clip formation 72 secured at an“angle” to a second C-shaped clip formation 74. Thus the formation 72has a mouth 24E whereby a panel 64 can be connected to the clipformation and the clip formation 74 has a mouth 24F positioned so that apanel 66, which is connected to the clip formation 74, extends at anangle of about 45° (viewed in plan) to the panel 64.

It is clear from a consideration of the constructions shown in FIG. 5and FIGS. 9 to 11 that there is an important interrelationship betweenthe shape of the fastener or fasteners and the shapes of the panels withwhich the fastener or fasteners are to be used. To reduce the componentcount the fastener should preferably be of the type shown in FIGS. 1 and2 and the construction of a panel should be similar to what is shown inFIG. 5. The scope of the invention is however not confined to theseparticular configuration for other configurations may be employedalthough, generally, this would be at the expense of an increasedcomponent count.

A plurality of panels of the kind described are provided, in deflatedform, together with a plurality of fasteners 10 to make up a buildingkit. At the time of usage the user inflates the tubular sections ofselected panels. When the tubular peripheral formations are inflated thepanels take up their desired shapes and sizes. The panels can then beconnected to one another. The panels are readily disassembled and can bedeflated for storage or transport purposes.

It is envisaged that the building kit of the invention will be usedparticularly by children to make structures, shelters and the like. Thepanels are lightweight and safe to use and the likelihood of a childbeing injured when using the panels is remote. Obviously the panels donot possess sufficient strength to render them load-bearing.

Another application which falls within the scope of the invention is tomake use of a building kit of the kind described to erect a shelter forexample as a wind or sun shelter. This type of structure can be used,for example, on the beach in place of a beach umbrella.

The panels can in fact be connected to one another in an arbitraryconfiguration or shape. A number of panels may be coupled to one anotherto form a maze or a tunnel-type structure and panels can be positionedadjacent a wall so that a shelter or enclosure is provided by a surfaceof the wall in combination with the panels.

The use of the kit of the invention is not confined to educational orplay devices for children. It is possible, for example, to make use ofthe kit of the invention to provide an easy to erect display assemblywhich can carry advertising, signage, logos or the like for example foruse at an exhibition or demonstration, whether indoors or outdoors.

The panels and clips can be made to any appropriate size so thatstructures which are made from the kit can also be of an appropriatesize.

1-15. (canceled)
 16. A kit for building a structure which includes aplurality of panels wherein each panel is made from flexible sheetmaterial having at least one respective peripheral formation which isformed by an inflatable section of the sheet material and a plurality offasteners, each fastener having at least two clip formations, andwherein the clip formations of a fastener are respectively engageablewith the peripheral formations of two of the panels which are positionedadjacent each other, to secure the panels together.
 17. A kit accordingto claim 16 wherein the inflatable section of a panel is tubular andextends continuously along the periphery of the panel around an enclosedregion of the sheet material.
 18. A kit according to claim 17 whereinthe enclosed region extends from the inflatable tubular section at alocation, which viewed in plan and cross section, is off-centre.
 19. Akit according to claim 16 wherein each clip formation of each fasteneris resiliently deformable.
 20. A kit according to claim 19 wherein eachfastener includes a bridging piece and clip formations on opposingarcuate sections at respective ends of the bridging piece.
 21. A kitaccording to claim 19 wherein each fastener includes two arcuatesections which respectively form the clip formations, each arcuatesection being engageable with a respective peripheral formation of apanel.
 22. A kit according to claim 21 wherein the arcuate sections arejoined to each other at a central region.
 23. A kit according to claim22 wherein the central region is linear.
 24. A kit according to claim 22wherein each arcuate section defines a mouth between an end of thearcuate section and an end of the central region.
 25. A kit according toclaim 24 wherein the mouth extends in an angular sense through an anglewhich is less than 120°.
 26. A kit according to claim 21 wherein eacharcuate section extends along a substantial portion of a circular paththrough an angle in excess of 180°.
 27. A panel for use in the kit ofclaim 16 which includes a region of flexible sheet material and aninflatable tubular section of sheet material which extends around theregion to form a continuous peripheral formation of the panel.
 28. Afastener for use in the kit of claim 16 which includes a body which ismade from a resiliently deformable plastics material and which is formedwith two arcuate sections which respectively define the clip formations.